The Welsh Fabian - edited for the Fabian Society by Roger Warren Evans -  Tel 01792-360673
or Fax 01792-368399 or Mobile 079-6817-7564 or E-mail at convenor@fabiansofwales.org

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"Representing" the People

The Fabian Executive has been charged, by the Society in its November AGM, with finding ways of making itself "more representative" of the gender- and ethnic minority composition of its membership, see Fabian Review p. 2. 

This drive, for a physical correlation between the membership and its executive representation, is fundamentally misconceived.  It is wrong in principle, and destructive in practice.  At Party level, there is a pragmatic reason for it, in that a Party perceived to be insensitive to either sector is likely to prove electorally unattractive. 

But what possible reason can there be for new Fabian rules which could discourage even the tiny proportion of members who currently bother to vote?  On on what grounds is their choice of representative to be constrained?  This idea should (in my humble opinion) be firmly rejected.

• What do you think?  Let us know, with a letter to or article for the Welsh Fabian...

Welsh National Conference 2002

What happened to attendance, at the November Welsh Conference?  As compared with 2001, attendance collapsed from 65 to just 30.  The speakers were of a very high calibre - Lord Williams of Mostyn, Rhodri Morgan, Carwyn Jones, and Michael Jacobs, the venue the same...

• What is your explanation?  Please write and tell me, because as the Organiser, I am completely flummoxed.  Shall I go on next year, or not?  Are you really interested, "out there"?

Politics - Dead or Alive?
Power, Participation and Public Life

Saturday 1st February will be a "must do" day for Fabians - and for many others.  The Fabian New Year Conference has become a great meeting of the radical clans, attracting nearly 1,000 to the LSE in 2001.  This year, we meet at Imperial College, to examine the processes of our own democracy.  We welcome 45 speakers, including Robin Cook, Will Hutton, Jon Snow, Polly Toynbee and David Lammy - at an all-day price of £25 (£15 for Fabian concessionaires - unwaged of all descriptions)

NB The cafe at 11, Dartmouth Street is now re-let, as a New Left cafe, creating a new meeting place for us all, when in London - make sure you visit, next time...   Contact The Fabian Society

Legalise all drugs

Fabian James Siddeley of Stockport writes a powerful Letter to the Editor of Fabian Review p.27, arguing that Government drugs policy is manifestly not working, and that "it would be cheaper of realise that now", and move to decriminalisation.  No individual opinion, of course, makes "Fabian policy" - but for my part I agree with James Siddeley, and I hope that other Fabians will make individual contributions to this vital debate.  For political reasons it cannot happen within the Labour Party. 

• If you favour decriminalisation, you can register your position publicly by signing up online to the Angel Declaration.

New Young Fabian  Chair for 2003 is Guy Lodge - watch out for him - we are proud to have over 1,000 Young Fabians in the Society, making active contributions - my hope is that this year the Welsh Young Fabians will get their act together, and organise their own grouping, for Wales...